Connector for printed or etched flat conductor cables



July 21, 1964 .1. G. JoHNsoN CONNECTOR F OR PRINTED OR ETCI-IED FLATCONDUCTOR CABLES Filed Sept. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MN N INVENTORJames 6. Johnson July 2'1, 1964 J. G. JOHNSON CONNECTOR FOR PRINTED ORETCHED FLAT CONDUCTOR CABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1961INVENTOR James 6. Johnson QM MN s BY Arron/vins W AGE/vr 'its place andtheconnector reassembled.

lkey as an integral part of the connector.

United States Patent() 3,141,720 CUNNECTR EUR PRlNlED R ETCHED FLATQUNDUCTOR CABLES .laines G. Johnson, Santa Clara, Calif., assigner, bymesne assiments, to the United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Navy Filed Sept. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 140,150 3 Claims.(Cl. 339-176) This invention is related to electrical connectors; moreparticularly this invention is related to electrical connectors forprinted or etched flat conductor cables. In electrical connectors andmore particularly in electrical connectors that have a large number ofconnecting prongs it has been customary to provide quick disconnect typeelectrical connectors with a keying means for guiding and properorientation of the two connecting parts, namely the male and femalepart. It has been customary to use round connectors where electricalwires or lead lines Vare designed to be the connected article. But sinceprinted or etched conductor cables tend to be at and elongated, the useof round type connectors are undesirable; for this reason a rectangularor elongated connector is used.

There are certain advantages in using the connector of the inventionrather than some of the prior art devices. Since tlat conductor cablesare made out of a soft'material they may be easily damaged when knockedagainst a sharp surface or subjected to other abuses. For this reasonthe invention forms a protective shield around the contacting part ofthe flat conductor cable. This protective shield also preventsV shortcircuiting when the flat conductor cable comes into contact with aconducting surface if the related surface is energized. Since a damagedcontact area or a short circuiting of the contact area could causeunreliable operation or irreparable damage to the related circuits, anadded degree of safety and reliability is inherent in this invention.

Connectors used with flat conductor cables in prior art devices havebeen sealed with a potting means. This potting means provided a waterproof seal and a reliable bonding for the flat conductor cable. But whenthe printed circuit or the connector was damaged both the at conductorcable and the connector had to be replaced since they were bondedtogether as a single unit. In the present invention only the damagedpart need be replaced. Therefore, if the at conductor cable is damagedthe related connector need only be dismantled, the flat conductor cableremoved, a new flat conductor cable inserted in If the connestor aloneis damaged the connector may be disassembled and the damaged partreplaced or repaired and then the same flat conductor cable can bereinserted.V This leads to a great saving in time and maintenance costand reduces the need for a spare supply ofreplacement connectors thatwould normally be destroyed during repair.

This connector has the added advantage of a reference This key forms adual function of ensuring that the flat conductor cable 'is notrotatably inserted in the connector and it also secures the hatconductor cable to the connector. The

combination of features provide a safe, reliable, rugged,

exposed ends of the at conductor cable when the male and female partsare disassembled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a at conductor cableconnector that is easily dismantled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flat conductor cableconnector that has an orientation means to ensure non rotatability ofthe inserted flat conductor cable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple electricalconnector that has a small number of parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple reliable flatconductor cable connector with a shielding means.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel featureswill be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with theappended claims.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the connector when assembled;

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional side View of FIG. l along the lines 2 2;

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional top view of FIG. 2 along the lines 3 3;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the connecting parts within theouter housing;

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the contact prongs ofthe dat conductor cable connector;

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged sectional view of the contact prongs of the datconductor connector in contact relationship.

In the illustrated embodiment FIG. 1, the complete connector 1 wouldcomprise a male section 2 which is inserted in the female section 3.VBoth the male and female sections of the connectors have a flatconductor cable 4 inserted in a slot at the end 5 and through a softseal 6, made of material such as neoprene or soft rubber. The femalesection has an enlarged cross section starting at the ridge 7 and issized to receive the male section 2.

One section 2 of the connector is rigidly secured to a wall or surface 8by a rivet 9 on a clamping means 1t?, Rigidly secured to this clampingmeans 10 is a tubular portion 11 which has a threaded hole in the axialdirection. Rigidly secured to the female section 3 by a weld or othermeans is a clamp 14 which holds a related or matched tubular section 15which is aligned with the tubular section 11. Tubular section 15 alsohas an axial threaded hole within it. A threaded retainer 17, which canbe in the form of a partially threaded screw 18 and shank 19, isinserted in the hole 13. Also associated with the retainer 17 is aknurled head Ztl which can be hand turned securing means for insuringthat the retainer will not be separated due to vibrations or inadvertenttension on the cables. Also by tightening down the clamp there is anassurance of good solid connection between the association contactprongs of the connector.

The sectional view of FIG. 2 shows the internal relationship of theassociated parts when the male and female parts of the plug areconnected together. The enlarged portion of female section 3 receivesthe smaller male section 2. A seal 21 follows the inner contour of theenlarged portion of the female connector 3. This seal prevents theentrance of moisture and dirt which would tent to destroy the contactrelationship or cause a current leakage across the surface of the flatconductor cables 4. Both the male 2 and female 3 sections of theconnector have similar and complementary parts for retaining the atconductor cable and forming the connection prong 25. The flat conductorcable 4 is adapted to t through the slot 5 in the end of the casings andthrough a soft rubber or other insulating material which forms a seal 6.This seal also serves as a clamping means for holding the flat conductorcable in place when subjected to a tension type pulling force.Immediately adjacent the soft seal are two elements 22 and 23 which aremade of material such as hard rubber or other insulating material. Thesetwo elements 22 and 23 are adjacent each other and form a slot or pathfor the flat conductor cable to continue into an inner chamber 24. Theelement 23 has an extension which forms a prong 25 and projects into thechamber 24. The iiat conductor cable 4 extends laround this prong 25 andis returned into a slot 26 in the element 23. The element 22 has a hole27 in it which receives a square headed bolt 2S. This bolt 28 extendsthrough the hard rubber element 22, the rubber seal 6 and the housing ofthe male connector 2 at the slot 5; a nut 29 is then used to securelyfasten this bolt in the hole 27. The internal elements of the femalesection 3 are similar and complementary, therefore no added claritycould be gained from describing these parts.

FIG. 4 shows the exploded view of the above related parts without thecasing. As can be seen in this iig. the at conductor cable 4 is insertedinto the rubber seal 6. The two hard insulating material elements 22 and23 are then aligned and form a slot or path 50. The prong 25 ispositioned relative to the slot to receive the flat conductor cable 4which is to be wrapped around the prong and inserted into the slot 26.Before the liat conductor cable 4 is wrapped around the prong 25, ametallic element 3h which has spring type arms 31 with detents 32 for`aiding the contact of the flat conductor cable by pushing it out fromthe body in the form of a slight hill and dale. The prong 25 has a smallcup shape detent 33 in it which receives another detent 34 of themetallic element 30 for securing the metallic element 30 to the prong25. The flat conductor cable 4 is wrapped around the prong 25 andmetallic element 30 and can be bonded to this metallic element 3ft) ifsuch an arrangement is desired but such bonding is not necessary in thepresent invention. The lack of the need for a bonding will be clearlyset out in the following description. As set out above the square headedhole 27 in the element 22 is adapted to receive the square headed screw28. All the elements are closed upon each other in mating relationship,the keying pin 40 is inserted and then all the elements inserted intothe outer casing of the respective connector sections 2 or 3. Thismating holds the elements in rigid relationship to one another andprevents a scrambling of the pieces when they are inserted into theouter shell of the section 2 or 3.

FIG. 3, which illustrates the top sectional view along the lines 3 3 ofFIG. 2, shows the male and female sections 2 and 3 connected together.As can be seen from this view, when the fiat conductor cable 4 isinserted through the seal 6 and wrapped around the prong 25 the keyingpin 40 receives a groove 41 in the iiat conductor 11 in slot 26. Thispin and groove allows for easy alignment of the fiat conductor cable toprevent any shift in a sideways direction. A second indexing groove 42is formed in the flat conductor cable and receives the extended portionof the keying pin 40 in the slot 50, the second groove being locatedbetween the prong 25 and the rubber seal 6. These keying pins 40 andgrooves 41 and 42 also serve the additional functions such as providingan indexing means to prevent inverted insertion of the flat conductorcable in the connecting elements and also providing a retaining meansthereby preventing the iiat conductor cable 4 from being removed fromthe sections 2 or 3 by tension shifting its position.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show in an enlarged detailed cross sectional view of theprongs prior to connection or engagement and after engagement. As can beseen by this drawing, the flat conductor cable 4 is wrapped around theprong 25 of the element 23 which can be a molded Bakelite, hard rubberor other non conducting material. The metallic element 30 is secured tothe prong 25, the flat conductor cable 4 being wrapped around it. The

two prongs are moved toward each other in lateral relationship as shownby the two arrows when the male 2 and female 3 sections are coupled.When the prongs come in relationship with one another the detents 32flatten out and tend to ride over one another, and when passed, the highpoints tend to form an interlocking detent means as shown in FIG. 6.This additional detent means also serves as a safe guard to preventinadvertent and accidental disconnection when the screw type clampingmeans is not being used. They also serve to inform the person connectingthe male and female sections that the prongs are in connection byoffering a certain amount of mechanical resistance. This mechanicalresistance is apparent when the prongs are moved toward each other orwhen they are pulled away.

Going back to FIG. 4 it can be seen how easily a damaged element can bereplaced. Any of the elements 6, 22, 23, 30 or the bolt 28 can becompletely separated from the other and a new or replacement part beused in its place. This saving in parts and case in maintenance andremoval of parts makes for a very adaptable connector. In this mannerdifferent sized or shaped elements 22, and 23 can be used which wouldaccept a thicker or thinner flat conductor cable without changing thewhole connecting element.

It will be understood, that various changes in the details, materials,steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be madeby those skilled in the art, within the principle and scope of theinvention, as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical connector the combination comprising;

a male portion, and a female portion, said male portion and said femaleportion having cup shaped outer housings, said outer housing of saidfemale portion having an enlarged opening to receive one end of saidmale portion outer housing, said outer housings each having a mating endand a partially enclosed conductor-receiving end, said partiallyenclosed conductor-receiving end having an opening therein for receivinga printed, etched or flat conductor cable, soft resilient sealing meanswithin the partially enclosed ends, respectively, of each of said maleand said female portions, one end thereof extending through andsubstantially filling the conductor-receiving openings therein, saidsealing means each comprising two mating portions between which aprinted, etched or flat conductor cable extending through theconductor-receiving openings in said male and female portions of saidconnector is received, said sealing means forming a seal with theconductor and with the conductor-receiving opening, said sealing meansend located in the conductor-receiving opening being rectangular incross section, and an opposite end being wedge-shaped, a rigidprojection means within each of said male and said female portionsengaging said sealing means and projecting toward the mating end of itsrespective housing, said projection means each having two matingsections adapted to form a channel therebetween, a first end of each ofsaid projection means having a V-shaped groove therein when the sectionsare mated to engage the Wedge-shaped end of said sealing means and toguide a conductor from the respective conductor receiving openings ineach of said sealing means to the respective channels in each of saidprojection means, one section of each of said projection means having anelongated extension thereon adjacent the channel between the two matingsections extending toward the mating end of its respective housing,U-shaped resilient detent means adapted to engage each of said elongatedextensions, and slots within the section of said projection means havingthe elongated extension thereon whereby printed, etched or flatconductor cables may be extended through the channels in said sealingand projection means, wrapped around the U-shaped resilient detent meanson each of said elongated extensions, and secured within the slots, sothat the portions of the conductors on said elongated extensions withinthe male portion of said housing will engage the conductors on theelongated extensions in the female portions and form an electricalconnection therewith due to the force of said resilient detents whensaid male and female portions are mated and key means projecting througheach of said projection means normal to the plane of the channel thereinto maintain each of the conductors in alignment with its matchingconductor on the mating portion.

2. In an electrical connector having two complementary sections, eachsection having a protective housing open at its mating end and having anopening in the conductor receiving end, and having no permanent orsemipermanent connections to the conductor, the improvement whichcomprises a sealing means in the conductor receiving end comprising twoadjacent soft, resilient members substantially filling the end, the twomembers having an interface aligned with the opening and providing aseal for the opening, whereby a cable may be inserted in the openingwhile maintaining the seal, and means in the mating end of each sectionto removably support an electrical cable, whereby conductive contactwith a cable in the other section is maintained when the sections aremated, each supporting means being adjacent the sealing means andcomprising a rigid insulating means having two portions, the interfacebetween which is aligned with the interface in the sealing means, one ofthe portions being elongated and extending toward the mating end, andfurther including means to removably secure to the elongated portion aconductor passing through the opening in the conductor receiving endbetween the two aligned interfaces and around the elongated portion.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein one end of each sealingmeans extends into and substantially ills the opening in the conductorreceiving end, wherein the other end of each sealing means iswedge-shaped and wherein the end of the supporting means adjacent thesealing means is V-shaped to engage the wedge-shaped portion of thesealing means.

References Cited in the Iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,686,534 Rosenzweig Oct. 9, 1928 2,124,943 Bennett July 26, 19382,700,140 Phillips Ian. 18, 1955 2,838,739 Winkler June 10, 19583,004,237 Cole er ai oct. 10, 1961 3,041,575 Schneider 1 June 26, 19623,065,446 Robb et al NOV. 20, 1962 3,082,398 Valach Mar. 19, 19633,089,114 Cole et al May 7, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,236,251 France June7, 1960

2. IN AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING TWO COMPLEMENTARY SECTIONS, EACHSECTION HAVING A PROTECTIVE HOUSING OPEN AT ITS MATING END AND HAVING ANOPENING IN THE CONDUCTOR RECEIVING END, AND HAVING NO PERMANENT ORSEMIPERMANENT CONNECTIONS TO THE CONDUCTOR, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICHCOMPRISES A SEALING MEANS IN THE CONDUCTOR RECEIVING END COMPRISING TWOADJACENT SOFT, RESILIENT MEMBERS SUBSTANTIALLY FILLING THE END, THE TWOMEMBERS HAVING AN INTERFACE ALIGNED WITH THE OPENING AND PROVIDING ASEAL FOR THE OPENING, WHEREBY A CABLE MAY BE INSERTED IN THE OPENINGWHILE MAINTAINING THE SEAL, AND MEANS IN THE MATING END OF EACH SECTIONTO REMOVABLY SUPPORT AN ELECTRICAL CABLE, WHEREBY CONDUCTIVE CONTACTWITH A CABLE IN THE OTHER SECTION IS MAINTAINED WHEN THE SECTIONS AREMATED, EACH SUPPORTING MEANS BEING ADJACENT THE SEALING MEANS ANDCOMPRISING A RIGID INSULATING MEANS HAVING TWO PORTIONS, THE INTERFACEBETWEEN WHICH IS ALIGNED WITH THE INTERFACE IN THE SEALING MEANS, ONE OFTHE PORTIONS BEING ELONGATED AND EXTENDING TOWARD THE MATING END, ANDFURTHER INCLUDING MEANS TO REMOVABLY SECURE TO THE ELONGATED PORTION ACONDUCTOR PASSING THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE CONDUCTOR RECEIVING ENDBETWEEN THE TWO ALIGNED INTERFACES AND AROUND THE ELONGATED PORTION.